-2020 NFL Schedule -Strength of Schedule
MOCK DRAFT
Ask the Commish.Com 2020 Draft Kit
Austin Hooper left Atlanta for Cleveland and should now be drafted as a low-end starter in the double-digit rounds. While Hooper has been much better than that the past two seasons, that's largely been because of volume. He averaged 8.1 yards per target in 2019 and that's also his career mark, which is fine for a tight end but not great. It's just hard to see how he'll approach the 7.5 targets per game he saw with the Falcons last year in a Cleveland offense that features Odell Beckham, Jarvis Landry, Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt. A more fair expectation would be the 2018 version of Hooper, when he finished as a top six tight end largely because he stayed healthy for 16 games.
A reunion with ex-offensive coordinator Jay Gruden in Jacksonville will give Tyler Eifert a new chance to put up some numbers. Keep in mind, the only numbers Eifert has even been remotely good at posting are touchdowns and games missed by injuries. Jacksonville's new offense should accentuate the tight end, but not enough to make Eifert anything more than a week-by-week streaming choice. We'd consider him for a final-round pick if the Jaguars' Week 1 opponent is to your liking. Otherwise, expect to see him on waivers.
Until Nick Vannett finds meaningful playing time with the Broncos, Fantasy managers shouldn't bother adding him to rosters.
For the first time in his 17-year career, Jason Witten will wear a different uniform other than the Cowboys. Witten signed a one-year deal with the Raiders, and he will be the No. 2 tight end behind Darren Waller. Witten is not worth drafting in any leagues. In 2019, Witten came out of retirement to return to the Cowboys, but he wasn't a great Fantasy tight end, averaging just 8.2 PPR points per game. He isn't expected to improve with the Raiders if Waller is healthy, and Witten shouldn't be drafted in any formats.
Until Levine Toilolo finds meaningful playing time, Fantasy managers shouldn't bother adding him to rosters.
Until Logan Thomas finds meaningful playing time this fall, Fantasy managers shouldn't bother adding him to rosters.
Demetrius Harris reunites with coach Matt Nagy in Chicago, where he'll compete for playing time in the Bears offense. Harris has never been a primary tight end, and that's likely to be the case with the Bears spending big on Jimmy Graham. Harris has nine touchdowns in 86 games and has never notched even 300 yards in a season. You'll get made fun of for drafting him.
After posting his worst numbers since 2010, Jimmy Graham signed a two-year, $16 million deal, making him one of the highest paid tight ends in the NFL in 2020. Hey, good for him. But after waiting for Graham to resurface as a quality Fantasy option for a few years with the Packers, it's unlikely to be good for us. Graham has had nine games with 10-plus PPR points over the past two seasons - and that's with Aaron Rodgers as his quarterback. He'll now get fed targets from Mitchell Trubisky and Nick Foles in a clumsy Bears offense. This doesn't feel like it will end well. Expect Graham to - gasp! - go undrafted in leagues this summer, which means you might use him in a lineup spot as a one-week waiver-wire replacement.
Hayden Hurst was the hand-picked tight-end replacement for Austin Hooper in Atlanta. He figures to settle into a role that landed Hooper 5.5 targets per game in 2018 and 7.5 targets per game in 2019. Hurst is just as tall and big as Hooper, but maybe a tad faster ... and, unfortunately, a whole lot less experienced. He's one to watch during training camp - if it becomes clear that Hurst fits into Atlanta's offense, he'll be the biggest tight end breakout candidate of the summer. Otherwise, he'll be a dart throw tight end to stream to begin the season. In either case he's worth a pick after 75th overall on Draft Day, making him a low-risk tight end with good potential.
Greg Olsen is a worthwhile target as a second tight end in a tight end premium league. He gets an enormous quarterback upgrade with his move to Seattle, and this is a team that allocated 102 targets to tight ends in 2019 and may throw the ball even more in 2020. Olsen will have to beat out Will Dissly and Jacob Hollister for the lion's share of those targets, but neither of those players have the accomplishments or salary that Olsen carries. When healthy, I'd expect him to be a solid No. 2 tight end that is streamable against good matchups.